Sandringham trains down for 19 days

Sandringham commuters will face 60 minute delays during the next 19 days as the Andrews government shuts the rail line to build the $11 billion Metro Tunnel.

Buses will replace trains from 8pm on Tuesday until June 9, as construction crews build the structure of the tunnel’s eastern entrance.

More than 160 metres of tracks, ballast and overhead signalling will be ripped up as crews excavate below the rail line to build the foundations of the new underground tunnel entrance.

Passengers wait for replacement buses at Caulfield station in April during Metro Tunnel works in South Yarra. Credit:Simon Schluter

To build the entrance, crews will construct an underground box and pour 400 cubic metres of concrete to install the roof.

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Transport infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said Victorians should prepare for ongoing rail shutdowns over the coming years.

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“We will be seeing disruptions of this kind on an ongoing basis over the years ahead as we get on and really go into the big phase of construction works for the Metro Tunnel.

“We certainly want to give Sandringham passengers plenty of information about how to plan their journey ahead during this next 19 days of disruption.”

The closure comes after works were completed at South Yarra during the April school holidays. It will lay the ground work for the arrival of two tunnel-boring machines later this year.

Rail Projects Victoria’s director of delivery Peter Wilkinson said the works were being staged, so the construction at South Yarra in April had enabled the next stage of works beneath the Sandringham line.

After trains return to the line, crews will be able to work “underneath the live railway to connect the tunnel works," Mr Wilkinson said.

Crews will also install 1.6 kilometres of signalling, power and telecommunictions cabling alongside the rail tracks between South Yarra and Windsor stations.

Ms Allan said that after the tunnel is built, Sandringham passengers would benefit from a 20 minute saving, as the project would significantly free up the City Loop.